Moving house is not something most people look forward to. It's a huge disruption of your life and it requires endless coordination and organization. We put this guide together to help you remember everything you have to take care of so that you can take care of yourself a little better while the whole ordeal is going on.
Old Location
Before you start anything, arrange for a professional mover. You can get mover recommendations from friends or review sites. Then think about arranging your packing materials (go sustainable if you can) and getting a dumpster prepared for both ends of the move. Take photos of valuable items and hold on to them yourself instead of packing them away and take a complete inventory of all household goods and print out a list you can reference. Once you start packing, pack household goods into boxes labeled by room-it'll make things way easier. Take supplies you'll need on the day of the move, like a few rolls of tape and markers for labeling.
You'll want to check with your insurance company about coverage for the move as well. Next, clean out your closets and garage, and arrange for a cleaning service for a final cleanup. Once they've cleaned, check every inch of your house to make sure it's empty.
Send change-of-address notifications
You'll need to alert your hydro company, cable/internet company, electric, gas, phone and grocery delivery companies of your move and new address. One of our partners, MovingWaldo, manages the address change for you, free of charge.
Don't forget to notify your local post office, BC Government MSP and ICBC, credit card companies, substriptions and of course, friends and relatives.
Before Arriving At New Location
Before you get to your new home, arrange for utility services in the new spot. This includes contacting a water company, electric company, gas company and cable/internet company. If you're moving into a condo, contact a property management company and book a parking space and elevator for your moving day.
You'll also want to get recommendations for repair services from a real estate agent, new landlord, the previous owner/tenant or an online review site. These services include a plumber, electrician and handyman.
New Location
Once you've arrived at your new location, make sure to supervise unloading and unpacking. The first thing you'll want to do is set up and make beds first so that you can collapse into them when you need to. Then, put up any shelving units before unpacking other items.
Take the time to meet your neighbours and write down their names, too.
Last but not least, enjoy your new space!
Jun 18, 2017
